[ he doesn't need to see her face to recognize how she might have been affected by this, feeling that secured wrap of her arm, coaxing out a sigh that's all too relieved that things have worked out for the better in all of this. not only in getting back something important to her, but in getting back her. sanji's forced to close his eyes briefly at that selfish thought; how could he want something so badly that isn't meant for him?
i know you understand. and how deeply he does. it might be that because he does, he feels that much closer to her now, the way their nightmares had been peeled so explicitly in front of one another when they'd only barely known each other's names.
his eyes remain closed in just taking in this moment now, in taking in her, the softness of her breathing as it flutters against his hair, her nose a gentle nuzzle that somehow leaves the rest of him warm, more so than the warmth of the water around him. if he could just stay here like this, to make it last, to quiet the rest of his priorities that would take him home and far away from her, to pretend that he could take her up in his arms and carry her with him to the all blue —
it's her words then that coaxes his eyes back open. ]
Eh? [ he blinks, he leans back, shifting his head to rest on her shoulder as he tries to peer back at her. ] You'll protect me?
[ how often is he the only proclaiming his status as protector, always keen to look out for the women in his life, never expecting the reverse, never wanting the reverse, because what it means to become a burden to someone else. ]
no subject
i know you understand. and how deeply he does. it might be that because he does, he feels that much closer to her now, the way their nightmares had been peeled so explicitly in front of one another when they'd only barely known each other's names.
his eyes remain closed in just taking in this moment now, in taking in her, the softness of her breathing as it flutters against his hair, her nose a gentle nuzzle that somehow leaves the rest of him warm, more so than the warmth of the water around him. if he could just stay here like this, to make it last, to quiet the rest of his priorities that would take him home and far away from her, to pretend that he could take her up in his arms and carry her with him to the all blue —
it's her words then that coaxes his eyes back open. ]
Eh? [ he blinks, he leans back, shifting his head to rest on her shoulder as he tries to peer back at her. ] You'll protect me?
[ how often is he the only proclaiming his status as protector, always keen to look out for the women in his life, never expecting the reverse, never wanting the reverse, because what it means to become a burden to someone else. ]